What’s behind the spike in fentanyl overdoses in Mexico?

A member of the Sinaloa Cartel shows capsules with methamphetamine in a safe house in Culiacan.
A member of the Sinaloa Cartel shows capsules with methamphetamine in a safe house in Culiacan, Mexico, April 4, 2022 [Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters]

Fentanyl use and overdose deaths have long plagued the United States, but now Mexico is seeing a spike in overdoses from this potent opioid, with communities along the border being hit particularly hard. While the Mexican government still denies opioid use is a problem, those who suffer from addiction are facing stigma and a lack of public health support. The big question is: What’s being done to tackle the issue in Mexico?

In this episode: 

  • Alicia Fabregas (@fabregasalicia), journalist based in Tijuana, Mexico
  • Jaime Arredondo Sanchez Lira (@jaimeasl), research associate with Prevencasa

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana with Chloe K. Li, and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Source: Al Jazeera

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